Improvement in car-couplings



UNITED STATES OTTO ALBRECHT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS. i

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 139,850, dated June 17, 1873; application lcfd September 10, 1870.

` tainly effected.

Figure 1 is an end view of a car with my a improved coupling attached; Fig. 2, a plan view, showing the bumper-beams of two contiguous cars with my improvement; Fig. 3, a detached sectional view; and Fig. 4, a detached view of part of the device.

In the center of the bumper-beam A of a a car is inserted and firmly secured the tubular metal socket D, through which passes a bar, C, the opening for the reception of the said bar being circular at or near the middle of the socket, but widened at each end to permit a limited lateral play of the bar in both directions. At the rear end ofthe socket is a dange with a convex face adapted to the concave face of a washer, K, through which the bar O passes, and against which bears a nut, M, turning on the threaded end of the bar and secured by a key, N. The front end of the bar is divided to form a fork or yoke, C', between which and the front end of the socket is a washer, L, with a concave face adapted to the a a F, connected to the yoke bya chain. The yoke E is secured at itsupper end to the side of one of the usual bumpers B B. a

When two cars in the 'same track, each proi vided with the devices described, are brought i i toward each other the inclined faces of the f barbs on one fork will be brought against those of the other, and both forks will be y turned on their axes, raising the` weighted arms G until the abrupt shoulders ofthe barbs pass each other when the weightsof the arms y. a will turn them back to their irst position, iny y y a terlocking the barbs, as shown in Fig. 2, and thus connecting the cars together.

It will be seen that owing ,to the form of the openings in the sockets the coupling devices are always maintained in their proper relativepositious when disconnected, but that when the cars are coupled together thebars C can play freely laterally to accommodate themselves to the lateral swing of the cars in motion; or in turning a curve, the concave faces of the washers K always a'ording firm broad bearings, against which. the convex i faces of the iianges s bear, whatever may be y the positions of the bars C. f

After coupling the cars may be more securey' ly connected by inserting the pin F in the lowermost openings inthe yoke E; or the coupling devices may be maintained in such a position as not to connect when brought together by raising the arm G and insertingvthe pin F in the upper openings so as to prevent theidescent ofthe bar.

The socket-tube having an internal opening expanding toward each end, in combination withr the bar C having a washer or nut adapted to the rounded face of the rear end of the tube, a

as specified. t OTTO ALBRECHT. Witnesses:

H. ALBRECHT, l AUG. ALBRECHT. 

